Forbidden Drink (29 page)

He made sure they had all seen his hand in mine before he released me, but his arm shot around my shoulders and he drew me to him, laying his lips against my forehead and running his finger along my jaw.

“Go find your Amisi,
ma douce
. I must commune with my line.” I nodded and stood on the tip of my toes to kiss his lips. There was a collective sigh through the room. It was a little creepy. Michel just smiled knowingly at me and whispered, “We are vampyre.”

I pulled away and glanced around the room. All eyes were on me with a type of hunger, but not the type that scares you, it was more an ownership thing. They were looking at me as though I was also theirs. Theirs to protect, theirs to serve, theirs to worship. Like I said, a little creepy.

I spotted Amisi with Erika and Jett. The vampires a little closer than I had seen them before, practically up against each other, as they sat opposite Amisi. At least Erika had been looking after my girl.

I went and sat next to them, a
Bacardi and Coke
appearing over the top of me, Doug's hand resting on my shoulder as he placed it on the table top. He didn't say anything, but the fact he had touched me at all was a bit weird. He quickly removed his hand and walked away. It was Jett who answered the puzzled look that must have appeared on my face.

“Every vampire in the room will touch you at some point tonight. Doug was selected as the first, we felt you would not be opposed to his affection, albeit brief.”

I blew a long breath out of my mouth slowly and lifted the drink to my lips. Vampires, crazy fuckers that was for sure.

“How are you feeling?” Amisi asked, taking a drink from a glass of white wine.

“Great.” I was pleased we were onto more normal topics of conversation. She just smiled knowingly at me.

“When did you guys leave home today?” I asked.

“At sundown.” Erika this time. “We thought you'd like some privacy.” Now she had that damn knowing smile on her face. I felt my cheeks blush slightly. They both laughed.

“You make a fine couple, Lucinda,” Amisi said, eyes all serious again. “That is why he did not act on how he felt, he saw it too.”

I frowned at her, unable to keep up with what she was saying.

“Nero,” she offered. “He recognised it the moment he saw you both together. The moment he saw your Bond glow in fact. He has accepted it, Luce, trust me on this.”

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just sipped my drink and watched the crowd. My eyes of course found their way to Michel. He was surrounded by some of his line, they were sad, but happy at the same time, reliving memories of Bruno,
communing
with Michel. His eyes lifted over the shoulder of one of his vampires and locked with mine.

I didn't need to hear the words he whispered in my head, I could see his desire in his eyes.
Mine.

Maybe the claiming was feeling threatened by the number of vampires in the room right now, even if they were his, but I got the distinct impression that he would gladly take me right then and there to prove his claim. His lips curved in a smile at my thoughts.

Oh boy.

Jett stood then, I noticed his hand briefly touch Erika's and then he picked up his drink and said, “I think I'll catch up with the master.” He nodded at Amisi and as he passed me, he brushed his hand along my back. It didn't feel nearly as creepy as I had thought and I was guessing the more of Michel's vampires who did it throughout the evening, the more natural it would in fact feel.

Welcome to the world of vampyre.

I guess I was finally home.

“So,” I said to break the silence that had descended on our table. “What's the news?”

“Erika has been letting me practise with the swords. The set-up downstairs is great. I'd like to get proficient before I have to return to Egypt. It would be nice to be able to do something Nero has not done before.”

“Showing the boss up, eh?” I asked, winking at her.

“Absolutely.” She smiled cheekily at me. “He's too damn confident for his own good.”

I agreed with her there.

“Aaaand what about you Ms. Anders, anything new to report?” I grinned at Erika. She blushed, such a cool response in a vampire.

“He's sexy, OK? That crooked nose just does it for me.”

Both Amisi and I burst out laughing. “Each to their own,” I managed between guffaws.

The whole mood of the room had lifted. Not just because Michel had arrived, but in direct response to my laughing, I think. I could feel it lifting as Amisi and I were choking back tears, laughing at Erika's expense. She had also joined in, unable to stop herself. Music started up, cheerful and upbeat, voices started to rise and before we knew it a party was in full swing.

Vampires do mourn their dead, but it is more a celebration of their death, than a sadness at their passing. Bruno had gone out fighting for a noble cause, protecting his master. I don't think the vampires here could have been prouder to have known him than they were right now. That nobility of his actions made their celebrating his final death so much easier, so much more convivial.

Drinks were being handed out, some vampires had actually started dancing. Although Michel has always seemed to have more male vampires than female, all of a sudden, there seemed to be a fairly even split of the sexes. I realised there were a lot more vampires here than I had seen of his at any one time. And a hell of a lot I didn't recognise, mainly females.

“Is it just me, or are there a lot of female vampires here all of a sudden?” I asked no one in particular.

“All of Michel's vampires were called home after Bruno's death. It is always the way when one so high in the echelon is lost to us.” Erika took a sip of her drink. “As to there being more females here than you have seen before, I would say that is by choice. Michel has kept the women away. He probably did not want you to dwell on the fact that he has turned so many over the years.”

I looked around the room and was struck by the sheer beauty of them all. They were stunning, typical vampire sleekness, all sexy curves and feminine lines. I had to smile, albeit a little bitterly. It had actually never occurred to me that Michel would have turned so many females, it made complete sense. How could they not have been attracted to him, lured in by him? And, I reluctantly acknowledged, it did stir some jealousy deep, deep inside. To have turned a female, he would have had to have been close to them. Very close. I suddenly had an urge to find him in the room and lay my own claim then and there.

He appeared at my shoulder instantly, leaning down and whispering in my ear. “You called?” I spun in my seat and immediately felt trapped by his gaze. He smiled slowly. “I do believe I approve of your jealousy,
ma douce
. I approve very much.”

Amisi and Erika had gone quiet. Just watching the scene play out in front of them. It was probably better than any soap opera on T.V. and they had front row seats.

Michel held his hand out to me. “May I have this dance,
Mademoiselle?
”

I didn't hesitate, just slipped my hand in his and let him lead me to the dance floor. The vampires making way as we approached, parting as they would for royalty. I didn't even register the movements, my heart was in my throat at the look on Michel's face. It was utterly sexy, totally captivating and entirely mine.

He took me in his arms and started to dance, moulding my body to his, making me lay my face against his chest, unable to look up at him when this close. He moved with smooth grace and confidence, owning the dance floor, making us glide over it, turning us in circles, making my head a little dizzy, or was that just the scent of him? The music went on for an eternity, no one else existed, just me and him. The feel of his hard length against me, his strong arms around me, his broad chest beneath my cheek.

As the music came to an end and another song started up he stilled us, now in the middle of the dance floor and raised my chin, allowing me to see the hunger in his eyes again. I licked my lips and he purred against me, his chest vibrating with the sound.

“May I kiss you?” He didn't need to ask, but the fact he did made the moment so much more surreal. I just nodded, unable to find my voice.

He slowly cupped a hand behind my head, continued to rub his thumb along my jaw and keeping his eyes fixed on mine, lowered his mouth to hover above my own.

“How much do you want it?” he whispered, his hot breath against my lips making me shiver in his arms. I still couldn't find my voice.

“A lot?” he asked quietly, still not bridging the gap. “Tell me?”

I shook my head slowly from side to side. I was trapped, barely breathing. For the life of me, I didn't want this moment to end and I was getting the impression he was more than happy to drag it out for me.

“I am betting, you would beg for it if you could find your voice. Will you beg for me,
ma douce
?” He held me firmly, not allowing me to pull away, his eyes devouring mine, his mouth still so close. I tried to move against him, to finish the moment, to lay my lips on his, but he held firm and just growled softly and whispered, “Beg me and I am yours.”

I would usually be fighting this, my internal monologue was humming, not scared, not in warning, just letting me know I could do better than just acquiesce to his demands. I was thankful for its reminder. He was playing a game, of course, having some fun, but it was in front of his entire line, who were all avidly watching their master seduce his kindred, right in plain sight, in the centre of the dance floor. For the good of all Nosferatin, I couldn't let him win.

“What if I say no?”

He seemed surprised, momentarily taken aback. I had not only found my voice, but denied him the answer he wanted. I saw a flash of amethyst in the blue of his eyes and his smile became a definite one of appreciation. I was making him work for it, all the better.

“I am sure I can convince you otherwise,” he whispered, shifting his hips against me, making me go weak in the knees. He would have been able to tell, my weight suddenly heavier in his arms. “That is better, my sweet little one. How much do you want me?”

I flashed him a smile. “How much do
you
want me? Make it worth my while to capitulate. Make it impossible for me to say no.”

His mouth opened in further surprise. I don't think he expected me to challenge him so. He swallowed, blinked slowly and growled very low. It would have been impossible for anyone in the room to miss it.

I just laughed, but my heart was now racing. I was pushing Michel to the limit and that was never a safe thing to do with a vampire. Especially, it would seem, one in the process of laying a claim on me.

He was stunned, unable to reply, unable to move away, unable to close the distance. I gently pushed back on his hold, keeping eye contact, moving very slowly. He only let me, because, I was sure, he just wanted to see how far I would take it, how far I would actually go. He was mesmerised by my resistance, by my strength.

I took one step backwards, then another, then another, as he stood stock still in the middle of the dance floor, the music still playing but not a vampire in the room moving.

“You wanted a chase?” I said a little breathlessly. He cocked his head and smiled. “Come and get me.”

I spun away before he could reach me, dancing through the air in my Nosferatin spin. The room was suddenly alive with
Sanguis Vitam
, the tension not frightening, but exciting. The vampires approved. It only made me more determined to show them what Michel had got himself into.

He was a flash as he followed my every spin, but he was good. He let me have a few seconds, maybe a full minute, of a lead, he let me show my talent, the beauty of my moves to the room. He let them all see just what a prize I was and then he simply appeared in front of me when I landed, after a long spin and held out his hand, palm up, ready for me to take. I stood swaying for a moment, catching my breath, finding my balance. My face was flushed with excitement, my smile broad on my face, I bit my bottom lip and looked right at his outstretched hand, then let my eyes slowly shift up to his. The magenta was bright and clear, dancing in depths of the blue.

“Kiss me,” I breathed. “Please.”

He smiled and took me in his arms, tipping me over backwards in an old style romantic movie scene move, claiming my mouth with his. The room erupted in applause, the vampires now all on a high. They began to move and return to their conversations, allowing us a moment of privacy as he devoured my lips and tongue. And me.

“You are a challenge,” he breathed against my cheek as he righted me again, still holding me tight against him. “A worthy challenge.”

“I'm glad you approve.” I was still breathless, still quite flushed and excited. He purred again, that beautiful sound from so deep inside him that made his whole chest vibrate.

“I would have you, right here, right now, but we must play our part. The night is still young and I believe some of my line have yet to lay hands on you. It would be selfish of me to deny them that right.”

“Deny them for a few minutes, I'm sure they would understand.”

He growled and lifted me off the floor, not cradled in his arms, just up against his body. I could have wrapped my legs around his waist, but even I have my sense of pride, despite recent evidence to the contrary.

“
Temptress. You shall be my downfall. I welcome it.” He kissed me this time fiercely, letting me feel his fervent desire, letting me see how much he did want to take me to his chamber and spend the next hour proving how much he really wanted me. But, he was right and also damn stronger than I had been giving him credit for. He gently lowered me to the floor and in a slightly cracked voice said quietly against my lips, “Go. Before I start stripping you of your clothes right here. I have instructed my line to hurry up and get communing with my kindred, my patience is running thin.” He was laughing as he said it. “You have no idea how much of myself you have made them see tonight. You are both my strength and my weakness. And now they know.”

Somehow I got the impression that that was a pretty big deal. He held my gaze for a moment longer, making sure I understood what he had just said and then he let me go and took a slow step back, adjusting his suit and keeping eye contact with me.

Later,
he whispered in my mind and smiled. In an instant he had disappeared to a spot across the room, picking up a glass of what looked like Bourbon or Whiskey - straight, on ice - and downing it in one. He was shaken and he was desperately trying to get himself under control. Doug presented him with another shot and he simply downed that too.

I turned away, allowing him time to recover. Erika was at my side immediately and led me back to the table, her hand on my wrist; a reassuring touch. A small smile playing on her lips. Vampires brushed against me as we walked, not too much, just a brief touch here, soft brush there. Comforting, not claustrophobic. I relaxed into my seat and took a deep drink from my glass.

“
Chica
, you are amazing. I have never seen Michel so rattled before. He
lurves
you. He really, really
lurves
you.” She said the
lurves
part in a sing song voice, which Amisi found hard not to laugh at. I just smiled and shook my head. I could blame it on the claiming, but somehow I didn't think it was that. Michel was mine and now everyone knew it.

The next ten minutes were relatively relaxing, all the vampires making their way past our table, gently touching me, stroking my shoulders. None of it seemed weird. I flicked a glance at Amisi to see if she felt uncomfortable, but she had that slightly bored, been-there-done-that kind of look on her face. I guess this was well known in normal Nosferatin circles. I've just never been in normal Nosferatin circles before.

I had the sense, as time passed, that the vampires were feeling whole again, despite the loss of Bruno. Whatever this
communing
did for them, it was important and it strengthened Michel's line. I also couldn't deny the sense of peace I felt too. I had never considered I needed Michel's vampires for anything, other than the occasional protection squad and just an extension of who he was. But, now I realised it was more than that. I was joined to Michel, so I always knew I had kind of come under his line, but there was more to it than that. It felt as though, all of a sudden, I was part of them too. Or they were part of me, it was hard to define.

I'd always felt at home on my parents' farm. They raised me from when I was only a few months old, they nurtured me, provided for me, protected me and made me strong enough to venture off into the world without them. I will always be grateful for that love and care. But, since finding out I was a Nosferatin and they were not part of that side of me, I have felt alone. Nero had filled a gap, even meeting Tim had filled a gap. But sitting here, right now, in amongst vampires of my kindred's line, I felt more at home than I had ever felt anywhere else before.